Gulf hires longtime athlete as coach

Casey Claflin, who has been a competitive swimmer for 30 years, joins the Buccaneers.

By IZZY GOULD
Published July 10, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Casey Claflin jokes that he can't wait for his 55th birthday.

As it stands, he swims competitively against guys in the 50 to 54 age range.

So when he turns 55?

"I'll be the young guy," Claflin said with a laugh. "I'll be swimming against guys 55 to 59."

Claflin has been a competitive swimmer for the better part of 30 years and has held as many as three world records for his efforts in the backstroke.

Now he'll return to the competitive field, marching up and down the pool deck urging high school kids to kick, turn and kick some more.

Claflin has agreed to take over as Gulf's high school swim coach.

He didn't seek out the job. He heard about the opening through Linda Cassidy, the same woman who asked him to start a masters swim program at the New Port Richey city pool.

Cassidy had built Gulf's program from the ground up during her 16 years as coach.

Gulf gauged Cassidy's interest in returning to coach after it dismissed Joe Lampkin for unspecified reasons April 12, but her current job running the city pool took up too much time, Claflin said.

Lampkin's exit sparked a parent-student protest at a Pasco County School Board meeting in April. That prompted assistant superintendent Jim Davis to orchestrate a meeting with parents, students and Gulf principal Thomas Imerson. The meeting gave the disgruntled group a place to vent, though Imerson wouldn't bend on the firing.

Claflin's toughest challenge might be helping the team heal, as some parents and swimmers vowed not to swim unless Lampkin returned.

Sue Smith, who has two children on Gulf's swim team, was among those who met with Imerson and publicly voiced her objection to Lampkin's dismissal. She said there was disappointment that Lampkin would not get another chance, but felt satisfied Gulf had hired someone with solid credentials.

"We're going to give him a shot," Smith said.

Smith would like to see the new coach set up a meet-and-greet to help rally morale.

"I told my kids, 'You need to give him a chance and see how it goes,' " Smith said. "Unfortunately, this guy's going in on a low note because the other kids wanted the other coach, but you have to give this guy a shot."

Claflin swam at the collegiate level for South Carolina and coached swimming at Winter Springs after careers as a stockbroker and real estate broker. He currently is studying to become a teacher.

"I'll be honest with you, it's not easy," Claflin said.

He also hopes to build a quality swim program with a feeder system to sustain winning for years to come.

"Those kids develop over the years and all of the sudden they're in high school," Claflin said. "High schools around the state have these wonderful teams. Maybe that's something we can start around here."

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or 727 580-5315.

[Last modified July 9, 2007, 23:05:49]